BETHEL — The Bethel Historical Society will host its annual Stanley Russell Howe lecture at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, in the Howe Exhibit Hall, according to Executive Director Randall Bennett.

Bennett said the lecture was “established by the Board of Trustees in 2010 in recognition of the many years of service that Stan Howe gave as executive director of the Historical Society.”

Howe has since handed the reins of executive director to Bennett and serves as director of education and research at the society.

The lecture will feature Earle G. Shettleworth Jr., a Maine state historian and current director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. Bennett said Shettleworth will give an illustrated presentation titled “The Land and Sea of Three Maine Women Photographers: The Real Photo Postcards of Thurza Foss, Minnie Libby, and Josephine Townsend.”

The lecture will focus on the women who created photo postcards early in the 20th century.

“Normally, the Stanley Russell Howe lecture has a serious feel to it,” Bennett said, “but this lecture will be a more light and lively event, due to the illustrated nature of the lecture. I think it will be an intriguing program. These three women were very accomplished in taking photographs of the area that not only showed how Mainers lived at the time but also had a real sense of artistry.”

Bennett said he “grew up seeing some of Libby’s photographs” and is “anxious to learn a bit more about her career.”

Shettleworth’s lecture is not the first time he has spoken at the Howe Exhibit Hall, Bennett said.

“Earle has presented many programs over the years for us, and not just slide shows or lectures,” Bennett said. “He’s done walking tours of the historic district and helped out in many different ways. We’ve had him here off and on since the mid ’70s, and he’s since become a good friend of the staff. It’s always a pleasure to have him here.”

For more information, call the Bethel Historical Society at 824-2908.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com